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Photograph by Paul Almasy / Corbis
Two cancan dancers, c. 1950.
On October 6, 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened its doors to the public. The cabaret, located at the edge of Montmartre, in Paris, France, attracted audience members from all social strata with its circus-inspired events and provocative dancing, most notably the cancan. In the past century, the cabaret has seen multiple owners and renovations, all while inspiring films and art works, including famous paintings by the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was a frequent visitor to the cabaret in its early years. This week, as the Moulin Rouge celebrates its hundred-twenty-fifth birthday, enjoy a look back at photographs taken in and around the cabaret.
